Southampton: Klopp heaps praise on Hasenhuttl for Saints turnaround
By Marc Walker
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has heaped praise on Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl ahead of their meeting in the Premier League.
Saints host the Reds at St Mary’s on Friday and the match could affect the top and bottom of the top-flight table.
Both Hasenhuttl and Klopp learnt their managerial trade in Germany and their similar styles are sure to mean an intriguing match-up on the South Coast in two days time.
In his pre-match press conference (transcribed by the Liverpool Echo), Klopp said:
"“In the time that Ralph is in at Southampton I think they are eighth in the form table – that gives you good information about the intensity of the game probably. They play a clear style of football. I have to say the job he is doing there is incredible. He brought young players in, academy players, a pretty brave decision. It’s a really good side, and the analysis was really interesting because it doesn’t look like a team that fights to stay in the league. They do what they do and stick to it.”"
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Saints have earned themselves some breathing room at the foot of the Premier League and are now five points clear of Cardiff in 18th with just one relegation spot left to avoid.
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Huddersfield were relegated last weekend after defeat to Crystal Palace, while Fulham suffered the same fate after losing at Watford yesterday evening.
Despite the gap that has opened up, Ralph Hasenhuttl and his players will be wanting to keep up their recent form against Liverpool.
Wins against Spurs and Brighton have come in their last two fixtures but Klopp’s side will surely provide a totally different type of test altogether.
The meeting between the two at Anfield back in September ended in a comprehensive 3-0 victory for the Reds over a Saints side led by Mark Hughes at the time.
As with many recent seasons, the arrival of Liverpool on the South Coast is likely to see many former Saints players playing against their former employers.
Virgil Van-Dijk is sure to attract plenty of attention from the St Mary’s crowd and Sadio Mane is a key man in their attack, whilst Dejan Lovren and Adam Lallana may well appear from the bench.
The form that Saints are in though could well mean that they and their fans have the last laugh come full-time.
Seven points from six games against top-six sides is another area of vast improvement under Hasenhuttl’s management and they will be hoping to pick up another result on Friday.